Conveyer structure



F. E. THOMAS 2,4537? CONVEYER STRUCTURE Filed Aug '7, 1943 Patented Aug. 6, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frank E. Thomas, Chicago, 111.

Application August 7, 1943, Serial No. 497,819

the said bucket structure is in an inverted position, and carry the contents within the bucket structure until it reaches an initial upright position whence the contents are held in the bucket structure by gravity, retaining the contents until the conveyer reaches the point where the contents of the bucket are to be disposed and the bucket emptied.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bucket structure of the aforementioned character which is provided with flange or lip means at the top so that when the said bucket structure is brought into contact with a flexible or elastic wiper element it will aid in retaining the contents within the bucket structure while the bucket structure is in an inverted position, and thus prevent the contents which the bucket has picked up from spilling therefrom.

I Another object of my invention is to provide a bucket structure of the aforementioned character in combination with a wiper means enabling the said bucket structure to hold its contents while in its inverted position during the cycle of operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide 'a bucket structure of the aforementioned character to be used in conjunction with conveying mechanism which is simple in construction, practical in its operation, and of such simple structure that it will lend itself to economical quantity production.

Other objects, features, and advantages, inherent in my invention will become apparent from'an examination of the accompanying drawing and the ensuing description wherein like numerals are used to designate like parts and in which;

Fig. 1 is a schematic arrangement showing a 7 Claims. (Cl. 198140) continuous conveyer system using my particular 2 particular bucket structure comprising the essence of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the view shown in Figure 3, with portions broken away to illustrate how the bucket is secured to the conveyer system.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end view, or side view of the View shown in Figure 4, and V Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showing the securing means for attaching the bucket structure to the conveyer proper.

In Figure-1, I generally designates two pieces of endless belting which may be partly of V shape in order to insure better frictional contact and traction with the V groove pulleys 9, l0 and II. Upon this V belting, the buckets comprising my invention, generally designated 8, are secured at such spaced intervals as may be found most desirable for the operation to be performed. This figure merely showsa schematic arrangement of a conveying means wherein the purpose of the bucket structure is to pick up a certain amount of granular 0r comminuted material 26 and carry the' same in a continuous circuitous path as indicated by the arrows on the conveyer system.

The angularly positioned platform l2 tending to receive the material dumped out from the inverted bucket 8, and concentrating it toward the pulley l0, causing the same material to be picked up and dumped at the mouth formed between the pulley l0 and the point I6 where the element I4 is attached. r

With this particular type of arrangement or structure, the material 26 is merely agitated when the conveyer is set into operation. If it is desired to transport the material to another position from the position where it is picked up, namely, near the roller I0, then the conveyer systemis so extended as to reach the designated point r Y The structure is, preferably, provided with a base I! and side plates (not illustrated) in order to confine the material 26 within a suitable hopper-like structure, the belting 1 as will be seen is mounted in an endless form over the guide pulleys of which there may be a greater number than those shown, namely, 9, l0 and H. To the base structure I! the anchoring element or portion [3 is secured in any manner, not actually indicated on the drawing. This serves the purpose of securing one end of the element I4. The other end of the element I4 may be secured at the point I6 either to the base I! or to a platform I2 when such a platform is used for purposes heretofore described.

The structure of the bucket is comprised of two plates 2| which have flared lip portions 22 and are secured to the body portion generally designated 20 which is shaped as shown in order to permit travel over a pulley more conveniently, and in order to permit equalized action when engaging the wiping member M. The wiping member I4 is made of flexible material such as textile or leather belting, or it may be made of an elastic material thus insuring better sealing contact with the inverted buckets when they are in intimate contacting relationship with it.

The rollers 23 are, preferably, secured tothe ends of the bucket 21 by means of reduced ends 24 permitting free rotation when brought into It is to be noticed The belting member I may be, or preferably.

should be counter-bored as at IS in orderto receive the rivet head [8 and thus provide a very secure arrangement which will at the same time permit the bucket to equalize itself in any direction that may be needed when it is actually picking up the material and when it is in contact with the wiping member thus furnishing a flexible and most desirable smoothness of operation.

This disclosure is believed to indicate the nature of the construction as well as the operation of my invention, and inasmuch as it is capable of being improved, I hereby reserve the right to all improvements which come within the scope and spirit of my invention, as well as those which come within the purview of the accompanying drawing and the hereinabove description.

Havin thus described and revealed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, bucket'means comprising, body means of substantially semi-cylindrical configuration, and end means of substantially semi-circular configuration secured to the said body means, the said end means provided with flared outward edges extending above theztop edges of said body means, and roller means secured articulately to the said end means, the outer periphery thereof being parallel to and above the top of said body means.

2. In a device of the character described, endless conveyor means mounted on a series of pulleys providing a circuitous path therefor, a "multiplicity of bucket elements secured to the said endless conveyer means, wiper means Secured below the lower portion of the said endless conveyer means, the said bucket elements provided with outwardly flared edges at the open end I thereof adapted to straddle the said wiper means during that portion of the cycle when the said bucket elements are in inverted position and filled with material picked up thereby.

3. In a device of the character described, endless conveyer means mounted on a series of pulleys providing a circuitous path therefor, a multiplicity of bucket elements secured to the said endless conveyor means, flexible wiper means secured below the lower portion of the said endless conveyer means, the said bucket elements provided with outwardly flared edges at the open end thereof adapted to straddle the said flexible wiper means during that portion of the cycle when .the said bucket elements are in inverted position and filled with material picked up therey.

4. Ina device of the character described, a wiper element secured to a housing and mounted in parallel relationship to bucket means traveling in a defined orbit, the said bucket means Comprising, body means substantially semi-cylindrical in configuration, and end means of substantially semi-circular configuration secured to the said body means, the said end means provided with flared outward edges extending above the top edges of said body means adapted to straddle the said wiper element when the said bucket means is in inverted position.

5. In a device of the character described, a wiper element mounted in parallel relationship to bucket means traveling in a defined orbit, said bucket means provided with sealing means, comprising, lip means on said bucket means disposed in opposed relationship to one another and adapted to straddle the said Wiper element, and roller means secured to the said bucket means and disposed at right angles to the said lip means adapted to be held in contact, with the said wiper element.

6. In a device of the character described, a flexible wiper element secured at each end to a housing and mounted in parallel relationship to bucket means traveling in a defined orbit, the said bucket means provided with sealing means comprising, lip means on said bucket means disposed in opposed relationship to one another and adapted to straddle the said wiper element, and roller means disposed at right angles to the said lip means adapted to be held in contactwith the said wiper element, the said wiper element adapted to retain sealably comminuted material in said bucket means when the said bucket means is in an inverted position.

7. In a device of the character described, an elastic wiper element secured at each of its ends to a housing and mounted in parallel relationship to bucket means traveling in a defined orbit, the said bucket means provided with sealing means comprising, lip means on said bucket means disposed in opposed relationship to one another and adapted to straddle the said wiper element, and roller means disposed at right angles to the said lip means adapted to be held in contact with the said wiper element, the said wiper element adapted to retain sealably comminuted material in said bucket means when the said bucket means is in an inverted position.

" FRANK E. THOMAS. 

